Police charge Northampton man with possessing child porn

March 05, 2013|By JD Malone, Of The Morning Call

State police have charged a 34-year-old Northampton man with possessing videos depicting children performing sex acts.

Michael Travis Trauschke, of 2145 Main St., had 10 videos on his personal computer that police described as child pornography, according to court paperwork. Police seized Trauschke's computer at his business, Bytes N Gigs, located at the same address as his home.

Police said Trauschke shared pornographic files via a file-sharing application called Ares. Police claim to have observed Trauschke sharing child pornography in September, October and November of last year.

Trauschke, a computer technician, told police in January that he used Ares to "download music files and stuff."

He also told police that he used his personal, hand-built computer to download files and that he did not have the computer with him when police interviewed him at his store. Police said they found the computer moments later and performed forensic tests on it, discovering the alleged pornographic videos.

Trauschke was charged with 10 counts of child pornography, and one count each of disseminating child pornography and criminal use of a communication facility.

Trauschke's attorney, Gavin Holihan, was not available for comment. Trauschke is free after posting $25,000 bail.